Cup vending machine



Feb. '16, 1932. L, MORIN 1,845,094

CUP VENDING MACHINE Original Filed July 31, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l CUPVENDING MACHINE Original Filed July 31, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 JfJTor-mFeb. 16, 1932. H. MORIN CUP VENDING MACHINE Original Filed July 31, 19294 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jiiwrz'farv Feb. 16, 1932. L. H. MORIN CUP VENDINGMACHINE Original Filed Jilly 51, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jzgwrz/or; [auzLr2. 2707122 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 barren srATEsPArENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. MORIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES ENVELOPECOM- PANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION OF IVIAINE CUPVENDING MACHINE Original application filed. July 31, 1929, Serial Iio.382,359. Divided and this application filed May 8,

1930. Serial No. 450,707..

This invention relates to check-controlled or coin-controlledservice-supplying devices or automatic sales devices, as used forexample in the vending of paper cups,the

present application'being division of my copending application SerialNo. 382,309 filed July 31, 1929, for cup vending machines. t is wellknown to those versed in the art relating to check controlled or coincontrolled service-supplying devices or automatic sales devices,including vending machines, that the constructional features, andconsequently their cooperating relation and manner of operation,throughout the entire operating mechanism, commonly from a movableoperating handle to a final delivery member or other service-supplyingmember or part, islargely determined by, and must necessarily bedifferent or varied in accordance with, the nature of the service to beprovided or the kind of articles to be vended. While the vending machineof the present invention was intent-ed nd is particularly constructedand designed for the vending of paper drinking cups of a certain kind,it is of course to be understood that various features thereof mightbe'to a greater or less extent changed ormodified while still performingsubstantially the same final function or result, as well asalso foradapting the machine to render a more or less differen kind of service.

One the objects of the invention is to provide a vending machine whichwill eifecobjects of he invention are reliability, sim plicity, str

i a reduced front elevation of a 59 vending machine embodying theinvention;

tively render the service above noted. Other 2 now being had to thedrawings, in

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the zigzag line 2.2 ofFig. 3, theupper portion of the container tube or magazine being. brokenaway; I

Fig. 3 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a partial horizontal section on the line 4-4. of Fig. 3 asviewed from below;

some of the operating parts omitted taken substantially on the line 8-8of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a partial vertical section as viewed from the rear of themachine and with parts omitted taken substantially on the zigzag line 99of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a partial rear elevation of a rocking operating member whichcomprises a gear segment, a cam and a ratchet;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section taken onthe inclined line 11'11of Fig.10 as viewedat rightangles to this line from below.

Like reference characters refer to like parts I in the differentfigures.

Astack of the nested cups .1, forming a supply. to be vended, iscontained in, an upright magazine tube 2, which may be a steel stamping,seamed together. The upper end of this-tube is closed by a cap 3 securedthereon which may be a drawn steel shell. The

container tube 2is shown as of octagonal cross section elongated fromfront to rear in conformity with the transverse elliptical shape of thestack of nested cups 1 (Fig. 5), which is contained loosely therein forfree downward gravitational movement. The cups 1 in this stack are intheir upright position with their bottoms down. The lower end of themagazine tube 2 opens freely downward into the top of a multi-partcasing which is open at its lower or bottom end,

and the principal parts of which may be zinc die-castings, this maincasing being in general substantially rectangular, as appears in Figs. 5and 6, and being substantially larger transversely than the magazinetube 2.

The casing comprises a substantially trough-shaped back piece 4 and asubstantially similarly shaped front piece 5 which join along theiredges at the side and are there firmly secured together by means ofdowel pins and screws, some of which appear in the drawings. Similarlyfirmly secured to the front casing part 5 towards its top and forwardlyspaced therefrom by means of rearwardly extending lateral flanges is afront plate 6. A centrally open casing top 7 interlocks at the rear withthe inner side of the upper end of the casing back 4 (Fig. 3) and has afront Wall which extends forwardly at a downward inclination and thendownwardly to the upper edge of the front plate 6 in alignmenttherewith. The inclined portion of this front wall is provided with akeyoperated lock 8, the bolt 9 of which is engageable with an inclinedkeeper lug 10 (Fig. 2) formed on a bracket 11 shown as secured to thetop and front of the front casing part 5 bv means of a pair of screws12.

The lower end of the container tube 2 has a snug fit in the octagonalopening in the casing top 7 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The lower end of thecontainer tube 2 for the most part rests upon shoulders formed in theopening of the casing top 7 (Fig. 3) but at its sides the tube 2 isprovided with downward extensions or tongues the ends of which areturned outwardly and upwardly to form hooks which engage beneath adownwardly extending inncr flange of the casing top 7 Figs. 2 and 3), sothat thereby the lower end of the container tube 2 is firmly secured tothe casing top 7 within its opening. The casing top 7 together with themagazine tube 2 may be removed from the rest of the casing by unlockingthe front lock 8.

The casing is provided with a front door 13 which has rather deep orwide lower and lateral rearwardly extending flanges. The rear edge ofthe lower flange of this door 13 is hinged at 14 to the lower end of themain casing front 5. At the front the door 13 is in alignment with andextends up to the lower edge of the front plate 6. This door 13 may belocked in closed condition by means of a bolt 15 turned over to form ahandle at its upper end and passing downward through lugs on the frontplate 6 and at its lower end through a lug on the door 13 at the topthereof (Fig. 2). The handle end of this bolt 15 is readily accessiblethrough the open top of the casing when the lock 8 has been unlocked andthe casing top 7' removed. If desired a separate lock may be providedfor the front door 13 in addition to or in place of the bolt 15. Thisseparate lock is indicated by the removable plug 16 in the upper edge ofthe door 13, which may be replaced by a lock similar to the lock 8 andthe bolt of which may engage at the back of a keeper lug 17 on the loweredge of the front plate 6 (Fig. 3).

Th enclosed space at the inner side of this front door 13 forms a coinreceptacle or money box at the front of the front casing part 5, intothe top of which discharged coins may drop from the coin controlledmechanism, as will hereinafter appear. The front of the magazine tube 2just above the casing top 7 is provided with a glass window 18 held inplace on the tube by means of a frame 19 and is held in this frame by asmall removable clip 20 at the inner side of the casing top 7, securedin place by a screw (Figs. 3 and 5).

The stack of cups 1 descends by gravity from the magazine tube 2 throughthe easing top 7 into the upper portion of the main tubular casing bodyformed by the casing back piece 4 and the casing front piece 5, with thebottoms of the cups 1 formed by their angular bottom edges foremost ordownward. It will be noted that the angular bottom edges of the cups andalso the longer diameter of their elliptical upper edges or rims extendfrom front to rear in the stack of these cups in the machine. The stackof cups is supported, as described in the aforesaid parent applicationSerial No. 382,359. by suitably mounted rollers 30 and 34, and issubject to the lifting action of fingers 29 and 33. on the rock shafts23 and 32.

Normally the acutely angular straight folded bottom edge or end of thelowermost cup 1 rests lightly upon and in the angle between a pair ofsimilar right and left feed rollers 43 and 44 journaled at the properposition on horizontal parallel axes which are parallel with the axes ofthe rock shafts 23 and 32.

The feed rollers 43 and 44 are pressed on so as to be firmly fixed uponperipherally flanged i and shouldered cores 45 and 46, respectively. Thesame zinc die casting may be used for each of these two cores. The feedrollers 43 and 44 are mounted on their respective cores 45 and 46 inrelatively reversed position so that thereby one of these rollers hasits terminal circumferential tooth or rib adjacent to the flange on thecore while the other feed roller has its circumferential terminal endspace adjacent to the flange on its core. The feed rollers 43 and 44 arein vertical alignment with the cup-supporting rollers 30 and 34, and asshown in the drawings (Figs. 3 and 7) the feed roller cores 45 and 46have their peripherally flanged ends turned towards the rear of themachine casing.

The core part 45 of the right hand feed roller 43 is fixed upon themiddle portion of a horizontal shaft 47, such as by means of a set screw48, and the core part 46 of the left hand feed roller. 44 is similarlyfixed upon another horizontal shaft 49 at the same level. The right handfeed roller shaft 47 is journaled adjacent to its rear end in the lowerpart of the right hand frame bracket 21 (Fig. 3) and the forward end ofthis shaft extends loosely through a large opening in the front wall ofthe front casing part 5 and has its reduced end journaled in a bearinformed by alug 50 (Figs. 3, 3 and 9) which projects rear wardly from thelower portion of the front plate The left hand feed roller shaft 49 isjournaled' adjacentto its front and rear end in horizontal slots 51- mthe lower pore tion of the left handframe bracket 22. I At each of theseslots, a horizontally slidable bearing pin 52 at the left side of thefeed roller shaft49 is guided in the bracket frame 22 and pressedagainst the feed roller shaft 49 by a coiled thrust spring 53 (Figs. 3and 7). These springs 53 press the left hand feed roller 44 firmly intocooperating feeding relation with the right hand feed roller 43 The rearends of the feed roller. shafts 47 and 49 have fixed thereonrespectivelysimilar large intermeshing spur gears 53a and 537) by whichthe two feed rollers 43 and 44are positively connected together forcooperating rotation at the same rate in opposite directions.

A smaller spur gear 54 for operating the feed rollers 43 and 44 isloosely mounted on the right hand feed roller shaft 47 just at thefro-nt of the wall of the front casing part 5 and is provided with a hubsleeve 55 extending inward t irough the opening in this casing wall.This operating gear 54 is connected to the ri thand feed roller 43through a one-way clutch. A clutch sleeve 56 is l'oose lv mounted on theroller shaft 47 between the feed roller core 45 and the operating gearsleeve 55 and at its rear end is provided with a clutch head 57 adjacentto the front end of the feed roller core At its rear end the gear sleeve5.5 is provided with a squareshouldered diametral rib which seats in acomplementary diametral groove in the forward end of the clutch sleeve56. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. so that thereby the operatinggear'54 is positively connected to f the clutch sleeve 56 for unitaryrotation therewith in either direction. The driving gear 54 and theclutch sleeve 56 maybe zinc dir' castings. while the two feed rollersshafts 47 and 49 may be of brass.

The rear face of the clutch head 57 carries a circumferential series ofdrive studs 58 shown as four in number. which mav be cast thereon in thesame piece therew h. The drive studs 58 nivotally carry gravity pawls 59which project therefrom in a counter clockwise direction (Fig. 7). Thefree ends of the clutch nawls 59 engage with the teeth of a continuouscircular internally toothed ratchet 60 formed on the feed roller core45, for transmitting counter-clockwise rotation only from the operatinggear 54 to the right hand feed roller 43, whilethe operating gear isfree to rotate idly in the opposite direction, with the feed rollers 43and 44 at rest. In this way steps of feed movement may be imparted tothe feed rollers 43 and 44 intermittently alternating with periods ofrest, each such step of feed movement being of suflicient extent foreffecting the delivery of the lowermost cup 1 from the bottom of thestack, with a slightoverthrow of the feeding movement of the feedrollers in order to assure that. the upper edge or rim of the cup haspassed completely below and is free from the feed rollers, so this cupmay then drop for delivery. Operating means are provided for operatingthe feed rollers 43 and 44- and the lifting fingers 29 and 33 in propertimed relationv as to these feed rollers and lifting lingers.

A rocking operating member 61 is pivotally mounted for to and fromovement at the front of the front wall of the front casing part 5 on ahorizontal axis parallel with the axes of the rock shafts 23 and 32 andof crating member 61 is operated from the han- I dle shaft 62 throughthe intermediary of coin controlled mechanism. For operation with outcoin controlled mechanism the operated member 61 may be fixed upon thehandle shaft 62, for example by means of a set screw in its hub similarto the set screws 43 for the feed rollers. In such case the coincontrolled mechanism may be omitted or it may be aresent and not used. Iv

The rocking operating member 61 has a al resemblance to a wheel with aperipheral front flange which the left side through about 130 has aconsiderably wider portion 64"(Figs. 2, l0 and 11). Theright half ofthis operating member 61 in its normal position (Fig. 2) forms asemi-circular spur segment the teeth of which arein ment with the"operating gear 54 for ed rollers 43 and 44. Throughout its 1 at the rearthe Wide flange 64 of the operating member 61 is provided with a cam iin faces radially outward and comprises a inner arcuate circumferentialinitial portion 66 an intermediate radially inclined portion 66a and anouter circumferentially .arcuate terminal portion 665 (Figs. 2; 3, 10

ment with the cam roller 28, which is carried by the cam lever 24 on theleft hand rock shaft 23.

The exact extent of the forward or clockwise rotation of the roelroperating memion of rest thereis not crltical and ber 61 from thenorn'ial p of shown in the drai may be, for cxanip through 105 or alittle more than that l the relativeproportions of the operatin irts ofthe mechanism shown. In its clockwise movement the rocking operati ember61 rotates the feed rollers and 44 ugh the above described one-wayclutch for thereby delivering a single cup 1. The feed rollers aredesirably rotated to a slightly eater extent than is absolutely requireddelivering the cup in order thereby to n i sure that the upper edge orrim of :p is entirely free from the gripping action of the feed rollers,so it may drop for delivery. Of course the extent of this idle rotatioverthrow of the feed rollers is immat During the return movement orcolor r clockwise rotation of the rocking operating nienil'ier 61, thefeed rollers 43 and 44 will he at rest, by reason of the disengagementof the one-way clutch.

Normally the cam roller 28 rests upon the inner or depressed arcuate camsurface 66, for thereby holding the combined supporting and liftingfingers 29 and 33 in pos1t1on for supporting the stack of cups 1 on thelift finger rollers 30 and 34. During the first part of the clockwisemovement of the operating member 61 and of delivery movement of the twofeed rollers 43 and 44 the cam roller 28 rides on the initial camsurface 66 and consequently without movement being imparted to the camlever 24 and cupsupporting rollers 30 and 34. At an intermediate poiutof the delivery of the cup after its upper edge or rim has passed belowand is free from the rollers 30 and 34, but while the upper edge of thisdownwardly moving cup is still projecting to a substantial extent abovethe cooperating gripping surfaces of the feed rollers 43 and the camroller 28 will be engaged by the inclined cam surface 660 which willrock the left hand rock shaft 23 in a counter-cloclnvise direction,thereby raising the lifting fingers 29 and 33, the rollers 30 and 34being moved slightly inward, to increase their pressure upon the cup,and being moved to a greater extent upward, which will lift the entirestack of cups so that the lowermost cup therein will be raised clear andfree from the cup which is being delivered. The extent of thecup-lifting movement of these rollers 30 and 34 may be anything founddesirable, and in the construction shown in the drawings, these rollersmove through an arc of about of an inch and are raised substantially aquarter of an inch.

After the stack of cups 1 has been thus raised by the inclined camportion 66a, the outer circularly arcuate terminal portion 66?) thentravels in engagement with the cam roller 28 and holds up the stack ofcups until the operating member 61 has completed its forward movementand the cup being fed by the feed rollers 43 and 44 has been releasedthereby and delivered. At an intermediate point of the reverse or returnmovement of the rocking operating members 61, the intermediate inclinedcam portion 66a again engages with the cam follower roller 28, followedby the engagement with this roller of the circularly arcuate inner camportion 66 thereby permitting the stack of cups 1 to descend by theirown Weight, while the feed rollers 43 and 44 are at rest, the stack ofcups then being supported upon the rollers 30 and 34 of the lever armsor lifting fingers 29 and 33 with the angular bottom margin of theterminal or lowermost cup 1 then resting lightly upon and between thecup-feeding peripheral surface of the feed rollers 43 and 44 preparatoryto the next delivery operation of the machine.

The spring 73 imparts a rather rapid return movement to the operatingmember 61, together with the reverse or return rotation of the feedroller operating gear 54 along with the released clutch element 5657.and the momentum of these moving parts is absorbed by the cushionelement 79 without jar or noise. Forward stop means are provided for therocking operating member 61 indirectly through the intermediary of thecoil controlled mechanism, which is now to be described.

Some of the parts and features of the above described dispensingmechanism have a cooperating relation with some of the parts andfeatures of the coin controlled mechanism, such as is commonly the casein the operating mechanism of a vending machine.

A coin carrier in the space between the front plate 6 of the casing andthe operating member 61 is fixed on the middle portion of the handleshaft 62. The coin carrier may be a zinc die casting with the handleshaft, which may be of steel, cast therein as an insert. while thehandle knob 63 may be detachably held upon the outer end of the shaft bymeans of a set screw (not shown). The coin carrier is in general ofsomewhat irregular segmental shape, located for the most part to theleft of and below the handle sh aft 62. At its front side the coincarrier 85 has a tubular stem 86 which extends forward on the handleshaft 62 to the inner side of the hub of the handle knob 63. An outerboss 87 formed on the front of the front plate 6 has a brass bushing 88fixed therein which forms a bearing for the outer reduced end portion ofthe coin carrier stem 86.

The front plate 6 has through it a coin slot 89 which is at the leftside of, slightly above and substantially radial to the common axisofthe handle shaft 62 and coin carrier 85. A proper coin 90, which inthe machine shown is a penny, may be inserted edgewise through the coinslot 89 into a substantially radial coin-holding slot provided on thecoin car rier 85, with the outer radial edge portion of this coinprojecting from the coin-holding slot beyond the periphery of the coincarrier 85. This coin-holding slot is provided between and is formed bymeans of lower and upper lugs 91 and 92 which project from the front ofthe peripheral portion of the coin carrier 85. The lower lug 91 movesthe coin 90 while the upper lug 92 holds the coin in position relativelyto the lower lug 91. The top of the coin-moving lug 91 is substantiallyU-shaped, providing radially inner and outer rounded ridges which engagewith the coin 90 at opposite sides of its center. The holding lug 92engages with the coin about from its center outwardly, with a. radialedge portion of the coin 90 exposed. The radially inner edge of. thecoin 90 abuts against and in its movement is guided by the circularlyarcuate outer surface of a-coin guide 93 which projects inwardly fromthe front plate 6 and may be cast thereon.

The front face of the coin carrier between the slot-forming lugs 91 and92 forms stop for the rear edge of the coin while the forward edge ofthe coin may move adjacent to and be guided by the inner surface of'thefront plate 6. The coin guide 93 extends from 5 below the coin-holdingslot and lower side of the coin therein, upwardly and to the right aboveand to the right of the axis of the coin carrier 85 and terminatesabruptly in an overhanging radial end which will permit the coin 90 todrop out of the coin-holding slot when it reaches this end of the coinguide and after the coin has traveled through an arc of about 105. Thecoin carrier 85 has a slight oven, throw beyond this point where thecoin 90 passes beyond the abrupt upper end of. the

coin guide-93 to assure that the coin will be discharged, and the coincarriermay rock through an angle of about 110 forthis pur pose.

A stop'lug 94 for the coin carrier 85,10- cated at the left side of andjust below the coin carrier axis, projects from the front plate 6 andmay be cast thereon. A lug 95 which projects forward from the lower andright hand end of the coin carrier 85 wlll abut against the lowerside'of the stop lug 94 to stop the forward or clockwise movement of thecoin carrier, while the lower side of the coin-moving lug 95 will abutagainst the upper side of this stop lug 9a to stop the return orcounter-clockwise movement of the, coin carrier with its coin-holdingslot then in alignment with and immediately inward from the coin slot 89in the front plate 6. The coin carrier 85 is automatically returned tothis normal position by means of a coiled torsion spring 96 whichsurrounds its stem 86, one end of this return spring being secured tothe coin carrier by means of a stud 97 while the otherend of the springis anchored under a rib 98 which projects downwardly from the lower endof the coin guide 93.

The periphery of the coin carrier 85 at its front side is provided witha wide forwardly projecting arcuate flange 99 which, radially outwardfrom the stop lug 94, extends from the coin-moving lug 91 around thelower edge of the 'coin carrier to the coin carrier stop lug 95. Theforward edge of this flange 95 is in close proximity to theinner face ofthe front plate 6, so that while the coin carrier 85 is being operatedin its rocking to and fro move ment, the coin slot'89 will be closed orblocked by; this flange 99 against the insertion of a coin, until thecoin carrier has been returned to its normal position.

Should the edge of an inserted coin be left projecting into the coinslot 89 in the front plate 6, it is obvious that the coin carrier 85would be locked by this coin against movement. In order to prevent this,coin-post tioning means are provided to impart final inward movement tothe inserted coin and to position the coin properly in the coin carrierbetween the slot-forming lugs 91 and 92 with the radially inward edge ofthe coin against the coin guide 93 and with the outer or forward edgeofthis'coin' inward from the inner face of the front plate 6 and thusclear of the coin slot 89. 1

F or this purpose a coin-positioning lever 100 (Figs. Sand 9), whichisflat with rounded edges, is pivoted on the inner headed end of a stud101 on the front plate 6 with this lever close to the inner side of thisplate. The pivot stud 101 is located some distance below the outer endof the coin slot 89 with the lever 100 projecting upward across theradially outward end portion onlyof the coin slot 89. This lever 100below its pivot stud 101 has a tail arm 192 shown as beveled at its endwhich abutsagainst a lug 103 on the front plate 6to limit the extent towhich the lever 100 may pass over or cover the coin slot 89. Atwoearmedwire spring 10 1 having a coil on the inner. headed end of the pivotstud 101, has the end of one of its arms connectedto the lever 100 by asmall pin 105 while the end of its other arm,"above the pivot'stud 101,abuts against a lug 106 on the front plate 6. I

This spring 104 normally yieldingly holds the lever 100 with'its tailarm 102 abutting against the lug 103 and with itsrounded edge portionadjacent to its upper end passing across theradially outer end portionofthe coin slot 89 in the front plate 6 (Fig.9). hen a proper coin ispushed inward through the coin slot 89, its rounded edge will push thelever 100 aside, but during the latter part of the inward movement ofthis coin, the spring-pressed lever 100 will have an increasing tendencyto move the coin inward and will finally move this coin inward clear ofthe coin slot 89 with its forward edge at the inner side of the frontplate (3. It may be noted that a coin-positioning lever operating insubstantially the same manner is claimed in my Patent No. 1,657,830 of January 31, 1928.

With the rocking operating member 01 at its normal position (Fig. 2) andwhen the coin carrier 85 carries no coin, the coin carrier may be freelyand idly rocked to and fro between its limits of movement or between anyintermediate points. \Vhen the coin carrier 85 carries a coin 90, thiscoin itself forms a coupling member which directly engages with acooperating coupling member on the operating member 61 for moving thelatter away from its normal position until the coin has been dischargedat the termination of the clockwise part of the to and fro operatingmovement of the operating member 61. For thus cooperating with the coin90, to be moved thereby, a stud 107 projects to the front from the wideflange 64 of the operating member 61 and may desirably be a steel insertcast into a thickened portion of the flange 64. This projecting stud isshown as square with two of its opposite corners in radial alignmentwith the common axis of the operating member 61 and coin carrier 85, sothat thereby its flat faces or sides are radially inclined 45.

This stud 107 is located on the operating member 61 at a position sothat with this operating member and the coin carrier 85 both at theirnormal positions (Fig. 2), the outer edge of the inserted coin 90, whichprojects radially beyond the periphery of the coin carrier, will be inclose proximity to and just below and inward from the lower radiallyinner inclined face of this stud 107,

v for moving the latter immediately upon movement of the coin carrier85. This inclined face of the stud 107 will press the opposite edge ofthe coin 90 against the coin guide 93, so that thereby this inclinedface of the stud, acting as a cam, will dislodge the coin from thecoin-holding slot in the coin carrier when the coin has been movedbeyond the upper end of the coin guide 93. When the coin is dischargedby the coin carrier, it will be received upon and will slide down aninclined chute 108, from the lower end of which it will drop into thecoin box at the inner side of the front door 13. This coin chute 108 maybe cast upon the front plate 6 and at its upper edge is notched aroundthe adjacent peripheral parts of the operating member 61 and coincarrier 85 (Figs. 2, 8 and 9).

An undersized slug, the diameter of which is less than the distancebetween the radially inner corner of the operating stud 107 and theguiding surface of the coin guide 93, will not operate the deliverymechanism of the machine. If such a slug should engage with the stud 107it will be pushed aside by the inclined cam face of this stud and willbe discarded by the coin carrier 85 when the slug passes beyond theupper end of the coin guide 93. In order to make it more certain thatsuch a small sized slug will be discarded with a single movement of thecoin carrier, means are provided to prevent return movement of the coincarrier from a partially advanced position when it carries such aslug.

For this purpose an arcuate ratchet member 109 is mounted in a deep slotin the outer or guiding surface of the coin guide 93, substantiallyflush therewith, and is pivoted intermediate of its length on a pivotpin 110 which forms a rivet passing through the coin guide 93 and thefront plate 6 (Figs. 2, 8 and 9). This ratchet member 109 has ratchetteeth, shown as three in number, projecting above the upper portion ofthe coin guide 93 and inclined towards its adjacent upper end. Thistoothed end of the ratchet'member 109 is urged upwardly by means of asmall coiled compression spring 111 which is seated in a recess in thebottom of the slot in the coin guide 93 below this end of the ratchetmember 109, the depending tail arm of this ratchet pawl 109 serving as astop against the bottom of the slot in the coin guide 93.

As soon as an undersized slug has passed over and been engaged by thefirst ratchet tooth it encounters, then reverse or return movement ofthe coin carrier is thereby prevented and it is necessary that the coincarrier must be fully advanced for discarding this slug before the coincarrier can be returned to its normal position preparatory to theinsertion of a proper coin in its coin-holding slot, which has beenfreed from the slug which would block the insertion of a coin.

The upper end of the coin carrier 85 is provided with a peripheral and,as a whole, substantially radial tapering projection or lug 112 having alower radially inclined face which is normally in engagement with orabuts against the upper and radially inner inclined face of theoperating stud 107 (Fig. 2). It will be noted that this, projection 112,in engagement with the upper side of the stud 107, and the coin 90 inengagement with the lower side of this stud, will lock or couple theoperating member 61 and the coin carrier 85 together against movementrelatively to each other in either direction. Also the coin 90 is lockedby the stud 107 in the coin-holding slot of the coin carrier againstpossibility of escape therefrom until it has been discharged at theupper end of the coin guide 93.

This projection 112 on the coin carrier 85 by its engagement with theoperating stud 1071Vrevents return movement of the coin carrier 85independently of the operating member 61 when the latter has been movedaway from its normalposition, and this assures that the coin 90 will bekept locked in the coin-holding slot, of the coin carrier. The operatingmember 61 of course can only be moved forward by means of a coin carriedby the coin carrier 85 and when this operating member has been movedforward or clockwise only a short distance, it will be locked againstreturn movement by the locking pawl 67, as hereinbefore set forth.Return movement of the coin carrier 85 from a partially a vancedposition is not then permitted, since that would move the coin away fromthe operating stud 107, so that to and fro movement of the coin carrierunder such conditions would be likely to throw the coin out of ordislodge it from the coin-holding slot of the coin carrier and the coinwould then be lost in the machine.

Some further note may be taken of the manner'of operation of themechanism as so far described.v It will be noted that the peripherallyprojecting coin carrier lug 112, in cooperation with the operating stud197 directly, together with the cooperating coin carrier stop lugs 94-and 95 indirectly, forms a stop for limiting the forward or clockwisemovement'of the operating member 61. This prevents overthrow of theoperating member 61, such as might cause the cam roller 28 to run 05 thetrailing end of the terminal cam surface 666, as" well as otherwisedisarrange the operating mechanism.

I will be also noted that this operating stud 107, againsowhich the coincarrier pro jection 112 abuts, may serve as a return stop for the coincarrier 85, throu h the intermediary of the return stops 78 and 79 forthe operating member 61. However, it is desirable to provide aseparatereturn stop for the coin carrier 85, as hereinbefore de scribed, inorder to assure that the coinslot of the coin carrier will be broughtcorrectly into alignment with the coin slot 89 in the front plate 6. Itwill be further noted that the coin carrier return spring96, actingthrough the intermediary holding of the peripheral coin carrier lug 112and the operating stud 107, would also be efiective alone to return theoperating member 61 to its normal position. p

An advantage of the separate return spring 73 for the operating member61 is that it permits a lighter spring to be employed for returning thecoin carrier 85, in view of the fact that the coin carrier is separatelyop-.

erated many timesidly, as well as also for I discarding slugs, which maybefnot only small slugs as above noted but also frail slugs such as ofpaper or of thin metal, which will be bent and discarded without '1operating the member 61. Another advantage of the separate spring 73 isthat it cooperates with the inclined coin-engaging cam face of theoperating stud. 10? in dislodging the coin from the coin-holding slot inthe coin carrier 85 when the coin has passed the up ing-stud 107, and atits other end to pass above or clear the ratchet teeth of the slugratchet 109. Or on the other hand, if desired, the coin carrier 85,together with the other parts of the coin controlled mechanism per so,may be omitted, the operating member 61 then being fixed upon the handleshaft 62 and provided with a separate forward stop, which it is obviousmay be readily done in several very simple ways, for example, byattaching a lug to the front face of the casing wall 5 to be in the pathof the shoulder shown on the operating member 61 at the leading end ofits cam surface 66 and ratchet 7 2.

hen the stack of cups 1 in the magazine tube 2 requires replenishing thecoin carrier is automatically locked at a forward position in which itsfront flange 99 closes the coin slot 89 in the front plate 6 against theinsertion of a coin, thereby to prevent the loss of coins in themachine. For accomplishing this, an upstanding feeler lever 113 ispivoted by means of a pin 114 between a pair of lugs on the back of thefront top bracket 11 (Fig. 2 and The feeler lever 113 at it upper freeend, has an inwardly tapering rounded feeler projection 115 to engagewith the stack of nested cups 1, while not interfering with their freedownward movement, nor with the lifting of the stack of cups in theoperation of the machine, nor with the insertion of a fresh stack ofcups into the magazine tube 2.

The feeler lever 113 has a downwardly extending locking arm 116 forminga locking pawl which at its lower end is provided with a forwardlyprojecting locking end 117, the upper end of the wall of the frontcasing part 5 being provided with vertical slot as shown in Figs; 2 and3 for the accommodation of gravity in a clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 3. Thus the feeler end 115 of the feeler lever 113 will be pressedlightly by gravity against the upper edge portion of the telescoped cups1 in the stack in the position of this lever which appears in Fig. 3, inwhich, however, the stack of cups has been omitted for clarity ofillustration, excepting the lowermost cup which is shown in brokenlines. In this position of the feeler lever 113 its locking end 117 willbe in withdrawn position at the rear of the upper margin of the path ofmovement of the operating member 61, so that the latter may be rockedfreely back and forth clear of this locking end.

On its back the wide flange 64 of the operating member (31 is providedwith a locking lug 118, which forms the above noted thickened portion inwhich the inner end of the operating stud 107 is fixed (Figs. 2, 10 and11). The advancing or forward end of this lug 118, as the operatingmember 61 moves in the clockwise direction, forms an inclined cam face119 while the other or trailing end of this lug forms an abrupt shoulder120. Vv hen the upper edge or rim of the uppermost or last cup 1 in thestack descends below the lower surface of the feeler end 115 of thefeeler lever 113, this lever will be rocked by gravity to move itslocking end 117 into the path of movement of this locking lug 118. Theinclined cam face 119 of this lug will ride past this locking lever end117, but soon after the operating member 61 begins its return movementthe shoulder 120 will abut against the locking end 117, thereby stoppingthe return movement of the operating member 61, which. will take placeat an advanced position of about 90 from the normal position thereofshown in Fig. 2.

\Vhen the operating member 61 is thus locked against further returnmovement, the coin carrier 85 will also be locked against further returnmovement by its peripherally projecting lug 112 abutting against theoperating stub 107 on this operating member 61. In this locked positionof the coin carrier 85, its front flange 99 will extend across or closethe coin slot- 89 in the front plate 6, thereby preventing the insertionof a coin through this slot. Should it be desired to arrange or adaptthe machine shown to operate as a dispensing device without using acoin, as hereinbefore noted, the feeler lever 113 may be retained intoto, or this feeler lever may be omitted, that being substantiallyimmaterial.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the constructionshown in the drawings and above particularly described, within theprinciple and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vending machine, the combination of an outer casing wallprovided with a coin slot for the edgewise insertion of a proper coin, arocking coin carrier immediately inward from the said wall pivoted on anaxis at right angles thereto and provided with a transverse coin-holdingslot which is normally in alignment with said coin slot immediatelyinward therefrom for moving the coin flatwise adjacent to said wall andso that when the coin carrier is operated the portion thereof adjacentto its coin-holding slot closes said coin slot in the casing against theinsertion of a coin, a rocking operating member coaxial with andimmediately inward from the coin carrier to be coupled thereto to beoperated thereby by means of a coin carried by the coin carrier, anabutment on the operating member engageable with the coin carrier toprevent independent return movement of the coin carrier when theoperating member is moved by the coin, a magazine for a supply ofarticles to be vended, vending mechanism to be operated by the saidoperating member, a normally disengaged lock to be engaged with the saidoperating member at its coin-operated position, and operating means forthe lock controlled by the supply of articles to lock the operatingmember at its coin-operated position for thereby locking the coincarrier at slot-closing position when the magazine needs replenishing.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the means for operatingthe said lock includes a feeler urged against successive articlestransversely to their direction of movement and the lock beingcontrolled by the feeler to be moved to its locking position to preventthe insertion of a coin when there is no article in position to restrainthe feeler.

3. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a coin carrierpivoted for rocking to and fro movement, a normally idle operatingmember the movements of which are to be utilized pivoted for rocking toand fro movement coaxially with the coin carrier, means on the coincarrier for moving a coin and on the operating member to be engaged bythe coin by which the coin carrier operates the operating member awayfrom its normal posit-ion and then discharges the coin, interengagingmeans between the operating member and the coin carrier by which thecoin carrier is prevented from returning to its normal positionindependently of theoperating member, and a double acting reversiblepawl-and-ratchet device for the operating member which prevents returnmovement of the operating member to its normal position until itsmovement away from its normal position has been substantially completedand thereby also prevents return movement of the coin carrier by reasonof the said interengagmg means.

4. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a coin carrierpivoted for rocking to and fro movement, an operating member themovements of which are to be utilized pivoted for rocking to and fromovement coaxially with the coin carrier, the coin carrier being freer;movable away from its normal position independently of the operatingmember, lug on the operating member to be engaged by a coin carried bythe coin carrier for moving the operating member away from its normalposition by means of the coin carrier, a projection on the coin carrierto engage with the said lug to prevent return movement of the coin carrir independently of the operating member when the latter has been movedaway from its normal position, a double acting reversiblepawl-and-ratchet device cooperating with the operating memher to preventreturn movement of the latter until after it has completed the extent ofits coin-operated movement thereby also at the same time preventingreturn movement of the coin carrier, a stop for limiting the extent ofmovement of the coin carrier away from its normal position which therebyalso limits the same movement of the operating member, means fordischarging the'coin from the coin carrier at the limit of its advancingmovement, a return stop for the operating member which thereby alsoprevents further'return movement of the coin carrier, a return springfor the coin carrier by which the operating member is also returned, andan operating handle connected to the coin carrier for advancing thelatter against the tension of its spring.

5. The invention defined in claim 4-, I in combination with a cushionshock absorbing member forming one element of the said return stop forthe said opera-ting member, a separate return stop for the coin carrier,and a separate return spring for the operating member so that therebythe latter may be returned to its normal position independently of thereturn movement of the coin carrier.

6. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a coin carrierpivoted for rocking to and fro movement, a casing wall just at the frontof the coin carrier provided with a coin slot at one side laterally ofthe, axis of ;he coin carrier, a pair of lugs on the coincarr er betweenthem a coin-holding slot which in the normal returned position of thecoin carrier is in alignment with the said coil slot in the casing wall,an arcuate coin gr e on the casing wall for the radially inner edge ofthe, coin extending from the coin slot in the casing wall on a convexcurve upwardly and laterally to a point above the 7 axis of the coincarrier and there terminating abruptly to permit the coin to drop out ofthe coin -holdi slot in the coin carrier when it has passed this upperend'of the coin guide, an operating member pivoted for rocking to andfro movement immediately inward from the-coin carrier and coaxialtherewith, and a forwardly projecting stud on the operating memberhaving a radiallyinclined face to be engaged by the radially outer edgeof the coin above the up C and inclined touardsits upper end so as topermit theadvanc'e of either a proper coin or a slug carried by the coincarrier and preventing return movement of the coin carrier when itcarries'an undersized slug the diameter of which is too small to engagewith the said stud of the operating member so that thereby the coincarrier must be fully advanced for discarding such slug before it can bereturned to its normal position preparatory to the insertion of a propercoin in its coihholding slot.

8. The invention defined in claim 6, in combination with engaging meansbet-ween the said operating member and the coin carrier to preventreturn movement of the coin carrier relatively to the operating memberso that thereby the coin will be locked in position in the coin-holdingslot of the coin carrier said operating member and the coin carrier toprevent return movement of the coin carrier relatively to the operatingmember so that thereby the coin will be locked in posi tion in thecoin-holding slot of the coin carrier by the said inclined face of thestud on the operating member, and a pawl-and-ratch et device for theoperating member to prevent return'movement of the latter until after ithas completed its coin-operated movement. I 10. In a coin controlledmechanism, the combination of a coin carrier pivoted for rocking to andfro movement, an operating member the movements of which are to beutilized pivotedfor rocking to and fro movement coaxially with the coincarrier, the coin carrier being freely movable away from its normalposition independently of the operating member, means by which the saidoperating member may be coupled to the coin carrier the pressure of 'thecoin stop for the operating member which by reason of the said stop onthe coin carrier may be also utilized to prevent further return movementof the coin carrier, a return spring for the coin carrier by which theoperating member may also be returned, and an operating handle connectedto the coin carrier for advancing the latter against the tension of itsspring.

11. The invention defined in claim 10, in combination with a separatereturn stop for the coin carrier in addition to the said stop providedon the coin carrier, and a se arate return spring for the operating memer in addition to the said coin carrier spring.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

